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: THE BOUQUET." — p. II. 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 



A MEMORIAL OF 



CHARLOTTE BMYTON PAIGE. 



Written for the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and 
approved by the Committee of Publication. 




BOSTON 

MASSACHUSETTS SABBATH SCHOOL SOCIETY, 
Depository, No. 13 Cornhill, 



\is 



. TzzTt 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, 

By the Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 

WRIGHT AND HASTY, PRINTERS, 3 WATER STREET, BOSTON. 



Cfil> of §tMwtnJ&l 



Perhaps no section of country has 
more beautiful localities than those 
to be found in Middlesex county, Mas- 
sachusetts. In one of its lovely towns, 
dwelt a family by the name of Paige ; 
worthy but not wealthy. Several sons 
and one daughter gathered around this 
household board : respected by the 
community in which they lived, the 
years passed on, in quiet comfort. 
The family of Rolfe, celebrated as 
much by its marriage with the Indian 
Princess, Pocahontas, as by any other 
connexion, was nearly related on the 
mother's side. 

Mrs. Paige's sister had married into 

i* 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 



a family in C , of rather higher 

" social standing," as the world goes, 
than the Paiges. The Braytons, by 
intermarriages, were related to all the 
old families of the place that had been 
distinguished in their day. But Mr. 
and Mrs. Bratyonhad no children; and 
when the little daughter was born to 
their sister, they both begged she might 
be named Charlotte Brayton, for her 
aunt. 

Mr. Paige had many business trans- 
actions with Mr. Brayton — and conse- 
quently, very often drove over to C — , 
about twelve miles distant, taking his 
little Charlotte in the chaise beside 
him. She frequently passed days to- 
gether with her fond relatives, who 
heaped every luxury upon her, took 
her round among their friends on holi- 
day visits, and taught her to call her- 



CHILD OP GENTLENESS. 



self Charlotte Brayton^ only. It was a 
pleasant thing to them to imagine. her, 
their own ; and the child's parents were 
quite willing to indulge them in the 
whim. The little girl became devoted- 
ly attached to her aunt and uncle ; and 
having no sisters at home, and only 
elder brothers, she was quite content 
to remain where every kind of devotion 
was lavished upon her. Had she had 
other than the most lovely disposition, 
she would have been spoiled ; but from 
her birth, the blessing of the Most 
High seemed to rest upon her. She 
was a fair, gentle child ; of yielding 
temper, holy thoughts, dutiful bearing 
and lovely manner. Like a ray of sun- 
light, she came into the presence of 
others ; and her sweet prattle was mu- 
sic in the large mansion, that but for 
her, would have been lonely. 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 



One day, she was brought from the 
paternal home to her uncle's, on the 
occasion of some business transactions 
between himself and her father. Be- 
fore the close of the morning, high and 
angry words passed between Mr. Bray- 
ton and Mr. Paige. The latter took 
his chaise, and forgetful of his child, 
engaged only with his own passionate 
thoughts, drove rapidly home. His 
wife came forth to meet him, eager to 
embrace her child ; but the cloud upon 
her husband's brow told its own tale. 
He explained the reason of his forget- 
fulness ; and as the mother knew all 
was " well with the child," she gave 
herself no farther uneasiness, but did 
what she could to arrange matters am- 
icably between the contending parties. 
The chaffed spirit of a man, however, 
was not so readily oblivious of the past ; 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS.' ' 9 

he could not bring himself soon to 
meet Mr. Brayton ; and after a few 

days, sent a trusty man down to C 

to bring home his little girl. The man 
returned, bearing only a letter with 
these word : — " When Mr. Paige wish- 
es his daughter, he must come for her 
himself. She will be entrusted to no 
other." 

A year passed on, and the little 
Charlotte remained still with her aunt. 
The bond grew closer between them 
day by day. The father, in the mean- 
time, had not entered the house, and 
had forbidden any visiting between the 
families, though the two sisters main- 
tained a friendly correspondence, and 
in course of time made up the distur- 
bance between their husbands, and 
Charlotte returned to her father's house 
— though only as a visitor. Not that 



10 "CHILD of gentleness." 

she was too much weaned from her 
mother's side to wish to stay beside her, 
and be happy in her quiet home, but 
in C , she had been regularly train- 
ed to study, attending a most excellent 
school, and had become extensively at- 
tached to her routine of scholastic duty. 
Her parents felt that she was far better 
off as the adopted daughter, than she 
would be if with them. 

In this dwelling of her adoption, was 
a cultivated lady, whose life and con- 
versation were full of heavenly wisdom 
— and with whom Charlotte was ever 
ascending in the upward path. Her 
teachings of love could not fail to im- 
press so docile a mind as this sweet 
girl possessed ; and day by day, a more 
radiant light emanated from her soul. 

The lovely gentleness and serious- 
ness of her character was in no wise 



u CHILD OF GENTLENESS," 11 

injured by the attention and devotion 
which on all sides surrounded her ; — 
she did not receive it as homage, as 
many young people would have done, 
it was to her simply kindness, which all 
should show to others ; and certainly 
on her own lips the law of kindness 
ever rested. She was a special favorite 
with all her mates, both at school and 
in seasons of recreation and festivity. 
Her winning sweetness of manner, her 
yielding disposition, her constant pre- 
ference of others' wishes, made her 
everywhere a much-desired companion 
among her young friends ; and her in- 
fluence shed on all around the bright 
rays of cheerfulness and love. 

Among these schoolmates were two, 
who, with Charlotte, always were des- 
ignated unitedly by the name of " the 
Bouquet" and both of whom still sur- 



12 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

vive lier. One of these, Mary Man- 
chester, was in her exterior very differ- 
ent from her two friends : strongly 
built, but thin, with a somewhat mas- 
culine outline of feature. She deported 
herself, however, with a graceful dig- 
nity which always won for her a regal 
title among her compeers. She had a 
spirit of unyielding firmness, standing 
in her strength unmoved before all. 

At school, no girlish timidity made 
her heart beat quick ; with a full clear 
voice she went through all recitations. 
If in doubt on any point, it only made 
her tone decided, so that, at least, she 
might have the benefit of earnestness in 
her duty, though she came to wrong 
results. She was not abashed even 
when examinations were held by the 
learned Professors of a neighboring 
University; she stood on her own 



• 4 CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 13 

ground of womanly worth and becom- 
ing demeanor ; and fear w T as far from 
her. 

Among her mates, she was regarded 
as a Sybil. Every subject under dis- 
cussion was referred to Mary Manches- 
ter as an umpire ; and from her words, 
there was no court of appeal. The 
timid she encouraged, the proud she 
brought low with some well-adminis- 
tered word of wisdom, howbeit there 
might have been an infusion of scorn 
at the littleness which could pride it- 
self on things of sense. Though high- 
ly connected, she never arrayed herself 
in the faded grandeur of the dead. 
She was mighty in herself alone ! At 
the age of seventeen, she married 
against her father's wishes, a young 
man of fine personal appearance, but 
most unfortunately worthless in life. 



14 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

Around her, troubles gathered fast and 
fearfully — while, through some mis- 
deeds which affected a large circle, and 
wiiich could not be kept secret, her 
husband was obliged to leave this part 
of the country, and seek a home in a 
southern secticn of the land. There, 
for a w T hile, he was placed in a public 
office : though not always in a state to 
attend to duty or write to his family. 

Of all troubles which could befall 
this noble, high-spirited girl, this was 
perhaps the heaviest ; so different a lot 
was now to be hers, from what she had 
anticipated — but she was spared all 
upbraiding from friends, for they saw 
that already she had a burden suffi- 
ciently heavy to be borne. There was 
for her young family no means of sup- 
port, unless she specially exerted her- 
self, or became dependent on her fath- 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 15 

er. She much preferred the former ; 
and in a neighboring metropolis, estab- 
lished a large school for young ladies, 
where she sedulously engaged in active 
duty. Success crowned her labors, 
and she amassed a sufficient property 
for the complete education of her two 
sons. 

Everywhere in society, she would 
have been welcomed ; but she chose 
for many years to live in retirement. 
Her sorrows had in a great degree, 
chastened her disposition to vivacity ; 
though there was nothing like melan- 
choly or depression in her subdued 
temperament. She had learned to re- 
cognize the hand which presented the 
mingled cup to her lips ; and though 
perhaps in some hours, she would have 
prayed that it might pass from her, 
yet as a gener^ state of mind, she was 



16 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS.'' 

cheerfully acquiescent in the arrange- 
ments of her Heavenly Father. It 
might be that no other suffering would 
have led her so fully to see what she 
needed for the full purification of her 
soul ; nothing else would have induced 
that firm, unwavering Faith, which 
alone sanctifies. If indeed thus, what 
a blessed exchange of all earthly hap- 
piness, — of all that is dependent, I 
mean, on friends and temporal fortune, 
— for that peace that passeth under- 
standing, that crown that fadeth not 
away ! 

This dear friend of Miss Brayton's 
girlhood, was dear to her to the last ; 
they always maintained a friendly cor- 
respondence during their subsequent 
separation ; and in the last months of 
Charlotte's life, when school days were 
the memories of twice ten years, she 
was attended by no one more assidu- 



"CHILD of gentleness." 17 

ously than by that part of " the 
Bouquet" which was always styled, 
" queenly Mary Manchester." 

The third of the trio was a young 
English girl, who was transplanted to 
American shores when only a child of 
two or three years. Her father had 
formed business connexions on this 
side the Atlantic, which rendered it 
eligible to remove his family hither. 

As she entered her teens, Annie 
Warwick formed a friendship with 
Charlotte B., which strengthened with 
every passing year. Possessed of great 
maturity of mind, each saw in the other 
strong attractive qualities which needed 
to be blended with her own character 
to produce a harmonious whole. I do 
not say that at fourteen, this was a 
matter of reason and reflection, but 
intuitively, each felt stronger for the 



18 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

other's companionship, and sought the 
other's society; and as they became 
older, and could more closely analyse 
the elements of their own individual 
characters, they saw then the founda- 
tion of this beautiful spiritual manifes- 
tation. 

Annie W., in person, was a most 
pleasing creature — rather tall and deli- 
cately formed, with an expansive width 
about the shoulders, that readily desig- 
nated the nation whence she came. 
Her complexion was exquisitely fair, 
with which.the faint tinge of rose-blush 
on her cheek sweetly contrasted. Her 
rich brown hair was gathered up and 
secured by a graceful knot, whence 
masses of clustering curls fell like a 
crown, encircling her whole head. It 
gave a beauty to her bearing, which no 
gracefulness of apparel could have done. 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS.'' 19 

Her brow, too, was delicately though 
distinctly marked — and her lashes, long 
and drooping, gave an added gentle- 
ness to her expression. 

In her nature she was timid as a 
gazelle ; her voice was low and silvery- 
noted ; and her " speech," itself " gold- 
en." In an hour of merriment, the 
tears would fall beyond control — and 
so too, in grief, was the depth of her 
sadness as sensitive, as exquisite. 

Religion shed its own hallowed light 
on this young girl's heart, before the 
cares of life had found their place with- 
in, or any shade of sorrow had clouded 
" the sunshine of her days." She gave 
the dew of her youth to Him who had 
all claim upon her affections ; and in 
return she received that richest of gifts 
— "■ the dew of His blessing !" Annie 
W. still lives, though by a wedded 



20 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

name, an elegant ornament of society 
in one of our large cities. She loved 
Charlotte B. to the day of her death, 
and manifested, in a thousand tender 
sympathies and delicate attentions, her 
right to share in the lovely appellation 
which had graced the youthful days of 
the trio. 

As Charlotte grew in years and wis- 
dom, she roused in her brothers a love 
of study and application which never 
left them. They became highly intel- 
ligent men, and good citizens ; and al- 
ways attributed much of their success 
in life to the persuasive words of their 
younger sister. Thus passed the days 
and years till she was about seventeen, 
when her adopted parent, Mr. Brayton, 
suddenly 7 died ; leaving, as it was gen- 
erally supposed, a handsome property 
to his wife and " daughter." But 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 21 

through, some flaws, legal or otherwise, 
unjust claimants came in for the for- 
tune, and there was very little left to 
those who should rightfully have in- 
herited it. At this time Mr. Paige was 
also dead ; and now, for the first time, 
Charlotte began to feel the neces- 
sity for personal active exertion, if she 
would feel independent of a world that 
thinks only too much of its scanty 
generosities. She had many friends 
who begged her to make their homes 
her own ; but her good sense told her 
that such bounty was, at best, precari- 
ous — for, though all needful w^ants may 
be supplied, there comes in time the 
wormwood and gall of dependence ; 
instilled in a thousand little ways, 
which words could never tell, but 
which are felt every hour of the day by 
those who have had the misfortune to 
test the proifers of the world. 



22 " CHILD OP GENTLENESS." 

Charlotte B. thus early threw off 
from life the " charitable garment of 
idea," and resolved to go forth and 
brave the world for herself. If she 
should meet harsh spirits and cold 
words, she had put on the armor which 
could enable her to ward off many at- 
tacks — at least, help her not to feel 
them. Though reared in luxury with- 
out having known an ungratified want, 
she had a strong heart and an earnest 
will ; self-reliance had not been the less 
cultivated, that it had not urgently 
been called into exercise. The wise 
lay up many a treasure against the dark 
day, even when the sun is bright and 
the sky fair. 

Our dear friend had already placed 
her best treasures where they could 
never suffer from the blights of Time. 
Her heart was given wholly, unre 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 23 

servedly, to God, to be His forever. 
Wherever she moved all took know- 
ledge of her that she lived with Jesus. 
The serenity of her manner, the quiet 
gentleness of her tone, the impressive 
dignity of her presence, gave her an 
influence far beyond her years. She 
was welcomed wherever she appeared ; 
among her friends, her bright face was 
the signal for a new expansion of 
heart ; and when she opened the door 
of the humble cottager, blessing and 
comforts were sure to follow. Such 
she was at seventeen, before she had 
encountered the world's rude jostlings, 
and when as yet only smiles had illu- 
mined the pathway. 

When only nineteen, she left New 
England, and its intellectual delights 
and great spiritual privileges, for a 
home in the distant south. She had 



24 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

made the acquaintance of a very 
lovely lady from Louisiana, who was 
anxious to have her return with her 
and educate her children; rightly 
judging that an influence such as Miss 
Brayton's could only be highly benefi- 
cial to a family of young people, and 
even to a wide circle of friends. In 
the quiet and seclusion of the bayous, 
such a companion would be doubly 
valuable ; and now that the wheel of 
fortune had turned, she was quite wil- 
ling to have it generally understood 
that she should entirely support her- 
self by her own exertions. 

In the year 183-, she went from C, 
and all its old familiar joys, two thou- 
sand miles away, to depend henceforth 
upon herself; to call no one by the 
endearing appellation of parent or bro- 
ther ; to listen no longer to the sweet 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 25 

tones which addressed her as daughter, 
or sister; to feel herself standing isolated 
among strangers; to lose for a series 
of years the sight of long-accustomed 
objects, the ministration, of a pastor 
and the daily sympathies of a church 
which was dear to her. These and 
much more she parted from ; all that is 
comprised in " the home of our youth." 
Some one has said that "nothing 
makes us so active as having none to 
help us — so discreet as having to rely 
on ourselves alone — so self-collected as 
feeling our own individuality sharply 
outlined off from all others, which 
must be the case with the utter stran- 
ger. Thus the bitter cup of separation 
will strengthen a soul that might 
otherwise become enervated, and im- 
mensely invigorate the energies." 
Doubtless, Miss Brayton experienced 



26 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

these benefits from her early privations. 
Every one does, who with right feel- 
ings goes forth to a new field of labor, 
and there earnestly does his daily duty. 
Xn*her new sphere, she looked only to 
God to bless — only for His praise, His 
smile — and she was happy. 

It needs less than many imagine to 
create happiness. The heart, deter- 
mined to be content, in whatever cir- 
cumstances the body may be placed, 
has already in possession the true hap- 
piness. Then, wherever God's skies 
overhang, they are fair and lovely to 
the eye ; the mingled voices of nature 
are ever sweet music to the ear ; hu- 
manity is dear, as being all children of 
one Father. The blessed word comes 
fraught with the same holy teachings, 
by whomsoever it may be preached; 
the perfect example is everywhere aixd 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS.'* 27 

at all times present ; and Life's great 
objects can everywhere be carried out, 
and the great end attained. The heart 
that has thus become nothing in itself, 
and has gained all things out of self 
sees in nature and in humanity more 
than the merely worldly eye can ever 
see. " Every thing that has God in it 
is its delight. The sky expands with 
a purer beauty ; the flower opens with 
a sweeter fragrance ; in the forest and 
on the river's banks, it finds food for 
contemplation and holy love; it re- 
joices with those who rejoice, and weeps 
with those who weep ; it is young and 
buoyant with the child, and wise and 
reverent with the aged : every thing in 
human life is dear to it ; it pities and 
forgives its enemies ; like Him who is 
embodied in it, it does good to the evil 
and unthankful ; tears are dried at its 



28 "child of gentleness." 

approach ; and smiles bloom like roses 
at the presence of its loveliness." 

Charlotte Brayton felt this, and her 
life exemplified it. Her soul was con- 
tent, satisfied; she could look with 
introverted eye among the multitude 
and find, in her own aspirations and 
thoughts, food enough for the time 
being. Her mind was richly stored 
from solid reading and close study. 
She needed, in one sense, no companion 
from without ; for with the great de- 
parted she held close communion, and 
found in their silent converse her 
dearest hours and highest intellectual 

joy- 
But she was not without friends in 

her new and far-away home. 

" None knew her but to love her,' 

as — 

H Hone named her but to praise." 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 29 

She was looked up to as an oracle 
of wisdom and worth; and both the 
youthful pupils under her charge, and 
very many of mature years, and even 
those descending into the shadowy vale 
of life, found always in her polished 
converse and quick expression of opin- 
ion ; her playful, sparkling witticisms ; 
her graceful mingling of grave and gay, 
a never-failing source of gratification. 
She was charming in her powers of 
narrative. Every trifling incident found 
a heightened attraction from the pleas- 
ing garb which she threw around it. 
She brought out into new and varied 
lights what many would have thrown 
aside, as adding nothing to the interest 
or poignancy of the tale. Her mirth- 
ful sallies w r ould provoke laughter till 
the tears ran, — and when she chose 5 
she could elicit tears, too, by her pa- 
thos and the deep feeling with which 



30 " CHILD OP GENTLENESS." 

she spoke. Her society was thus con- 
tinually sought. 

A practice prevails largely at the 
South, of Sunday dinner-parties. To 
these, Mrs. C.'s family, in which Miss 
Brayton was residing, were constantly 
invited ; but she herself refused them. 
They were not consistent with her 
views of " keeping holy the Sabbath- 
day ;" and though her example might 
not, in this instance, alter the ideas or 
practice of others, yet she swerved not 
from the straight-forward path of duty. 
•' Right onward " was her motto ; and 
such her course, above all, where prin- 
ciple was involved. Many most advan- 
tageous proposals of marriage were 
made, some one of which- she would 
most probably have accepted, had it 
not involved this matter of Sunday- 
visiting, and giving of parties on the 



"child of gentleness." 31 

Lead's day. But no worldly prospects 
had any power to lure her astray ; her 
deep delight in sacred things led her 
to quiet retirement and meditation on 
the Sabbath; and she w T as quite con- 
tent to be, 

" The world forgetting, by the world forgot." 

The origin of this custom probably 
lies in the circumstance that service is 
performed in plantation-neighborhoods 
on the Sunday seldom more than once 
a day, so that the entire remainder of 
the day is left for social purposes ; and 
as the families which thus congregate 
for worship, are many of them from a 
long distance, and do not often meet 
on secular days, they take the oppor- 
tunity thus afforded them, when in the 
near vicinity of their friends. Par- 
ticularly is this the case when Divine 



32 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

service is held only on the monftng 
of every Sabbath, as is very frequently 
the case. 

It should scarcely surprise us that 
the southern youth thus grow up with- 
out any very decided reverence for holy 
time — " the solemn consecrated hours" 
which God has given to man, that he 
may turn his thoughts freely to a 
preparation for the better life. IsTor 
strange is it that they can seldom re- 
spond to the sentiment of those beau- 
tiful lines, 

In holy duties, let the day, 
In holy pleasures pass away : 
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend, 
In hope of one that ne'er shall end. 

In Louisiana, Miss Bray ton resided 
for six or eight years ; surrounded, of 
course, by a class among our American 
population, of whom much has been 
said and written — a race looked upon 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 33 

with very different eyes by different 
portions of the country; but generally, 
by the higher class of the southern 
community, regarded with more favor 
than is usually supposed by those who 
have never dwelt among them. A wise 
northerner, in making his temporary 
home in a southern state, will never 
intermeddle with what are denomi- 
nated its " peculiar institutions." If 
from no other reason, he would desist 
from policy, if he cared for the happi- 
ness and comfort of the slave. Inter- 
ference only draws his bonds the closer; 
and the whole North, through such an 
individual, gains only in contempt; 
never, in esteem. The planter himself 
acknowledges the evils of the " sys- 
tem ;" and nine-tenths of them would 
gladly resign the whole charge of what 
rests on them, were there any other 



84 " CHILI) OF GENTLENESS." 



possible means of support to their fam- 
ilies. They feel the burden, as fully 
as their bitterest enemy could derire — 
the weight, the drag, the care, the 
anxiety. They wear the fetters, in one 
sense ; fetters quite as wearisome to the 
white man and as galling and injurious 
to the moral part of his nature, as those 
worn by the black man to his. The 
master knows it and feels it; and in his 
despair often says, " If you desire to 
enter the kingdom of heaven, never 
own a plantation ;" probably meaning 
that the trials of patience and faith 
are almost beyond human strength. 

Miss Brayton was a great favorite 
with the G. household ; not only with 
the immediate family, but with the 
numerous retinue of servants. She had 
no mean opinion of their natural capa- 
bilities, in the mass; and in special 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS/' 35 

instances, thought them worthy com- 
peers of a fairer race. But she had 
too much good sense and tact to make 
their condition a topic of conversation. 
Whenever she was able to do them a 
kindness, she delighted in it. She 
listened to any of their homely recitals 
with interest, and in a thousand little 
ways won their favorable feeling. She 
was ever ready to write them " a pass'* 
to some gay revel ; and to her, on the 
next day, were their simple pleasures 
duly recapitulated. She loved to listen 
to their untaught music, as, assembling 
round the verandah in the soft air of 
the autumn night, they would sing 
their unwritten song with perfect time 
and harmony, Their voices, full and 
rich, would enchain her ear by the hour 
together; and, in their strange, wild 
melodies, she found an endless recrea- 
tion . 



36 " CHILD OP GENTLENESS." 

In the warm-heartedness and the per- 
sonal attachment which characterize 
the black population, there is much to 
admire, much to draw out an affection- 
ate attachment, in return, from the 
freer race. Their constant readiness to 
do a kindness, even when there is no 
obligation ; their warm sympathy in 
whatever greatly interests those on 
whom they are dependent ; their cheer- 
ful, happy faces, giving a lesson of con- 
tent to a more favored people; their 
willing disregard of personal comfort, 
in order to enhance the comfort of a 
superior; the earnest faith which lives 
in their hearts, making them in their 
lowly estate, such ardent recipients of 
the glorious doctrines of Christ; — all 
this is surely enough to excite regard, 
even in the minds of those who may 
have been a thousand-fold more highly 
privileged and blessed. 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 37 

All these characteristics were fully 
appreciated by Miss Bray ton, whose 
mind was keenly alive to excellence in 
every form, under any color. She 
would pass a portion of every Sab- 
bath in reading to them from the 
Scriptures, with short, simple commen- 
taries of her own ; and also from a 
variety of instructive books, which she 
collected for their especial benefit. 
The whole-souled attention which they 
gave, and the questions which they 
would afterwards put to her, were a 
quite sufficient reward for all her kind- 
ly labors in their behalf. Doubtless, 
to this very day, when she has long 
"passed on " to receive her crown, the 
memory of her good deeds dwells bright 
and warm in the hearts of those who 
thus lived in her benignant smile, and 
grew better under her religious instruc- 



38 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

tion. Doubtless, as they wander among 
the luxuriant growths of that balmy 
region, her name often mingles with 
their songs; and the gratitude which 
it recalls, fresh and warm in their 
hearts, gives a half-inspiration to the 
tale repeated around their cabin doors. 
So true is it that 

" The sweet remembrance of the just, 
Shall flourish, when he sleeps in dust." 

In 1840, Miss Brayton returned from 
the South, at the call of her only re- 
maining parent — her own mother, 
whom she had never ceased to love 
with the tenderest affection because 
she was adopted by others who could 
do more for her in a worldly point of 
view. Both her adopted parents were 
now dead ; and, as we have said, her 
own father. She could not refuse a 
summons to cheer the declining days 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 39 

of the mother, whose only daughter 
she was ; and who had given up her 
society in early youth, that she herself 
might thereby reap greater intellectual 
benefits. It was pleasant to her to 
dwell again among her own kindred 
and people, though her warm heart 
never forgot the far distant friends, 
who had made a sojourn of many years 
so pleasant to her. She brought away 
to her northern home, blessings and 
affection ; and maintained a constant 
correspondence with many whom she 
might see no more on earth. 

Her mother did not long survive, 
after her return ; and then she made her 
home, still in C — , with a most lovely 
family, distinguished in the large and 
literary community where they resided. 
It was a family where consumption had 
set its seal, though as yet, but small 



40 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

inroad had been made in numbers. 
Only a few years before, and father, 
mother, and five most promising sons 
and daughters, together with two sweet 
sisters of the mother, who had made 
their home with her, were all in appa- 
rently comfortable health. Their large 
and elegant mansion-house resounded 
with the tones of quiet cheerfulness. 
It was a family not often equalled, 
perhaps, for its harmony of feeling and 
action, its wide benevolence, its genial 
hospitality. Here Miss Brayton made 
herself a most charming member of 
the family circle ; but it was written 
by the Hand whose decisions are in- 
scrutable, that soon all this beauty 
should be as a fading flower, and 
" dust " inscribed upon all this loveli- 
ness. Thank God, the goodness and the 
w r orth still live ! 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 41 

Soon, one after another yielded to 
the blow of the destroyer — a son, a 
parent, a daughter disappeared from 
the hearthstone ; another and another 
summons by the Invisible, and the fam- 
ily altar had few to kneel before it. 
Charlotte Brayton was, during three 
years, a constant attendant upon each, 
as they rapidly passed beyond all hu- 
man care. Her gentle ministrations 
soothed the hours of pain and weari- 
ness ; she brought from the outer 
world the freshness of morning life, 
and shed around the apartment some- 
thing that was almost like a prestige 
of health. The sweet music of her 
tones as she read aloud to the linger- 
ing sufferer, cheered the trial of the 
day; her pleasant narrations gave a 
poignancy to the hour, and excited a 
smile even in the midst of pain ; while 



42 "CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

her gentle touch was like that of the 
flower-angel, as he leaves on bud and 
blossom the fragrance and the pearly 
dew. 

One after another, she saw T them 
all depart; but in every instance it 
was the serene, happy death of the 
Christian. There was naught to regret, 
save that such examples of excellence 
were soon withdrawn from a world 
where there is so much need of them. 
These was in every instance the " full 
assurance of hope " of an eternal bless- 
edness for the departed one. 

But all the long watching of years 
had done its work in the delicate 
frame of Miss Brayton. She had im- 
bibed consumption from the atmos- 
phere around her, and she knew that 
no long stay was hers on earth. Dear 
friends clustered around her in place of 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 43 

those who were gone; kind attentions 
smoothed the pathway. Though the 
same weary round of painful weakness 
and weariness was to be passed through 
by herself, which she had witnessed in 
others, yet the cheerfulness that in 
health she had felt to be a duty toward 
God, she still felt to be so. 

There is a light around her brow, 

A holiness in those calm eyes, 
Which show, tho' earth may claim it now, 

Her spirit's home is in the skies. 

Her slender form was no longer .able 
to support its own weight, and her 
light step was no more seen abroad in 
the genial air of latter May ; her place 
was now " the sick-room." 

From the bright South she had 
brought many of the rare and rich 
plants of that favored clime of flowers, 



44 "CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

which for years she had cherished with 
care and love. They now bloomed 
around her, gladdening her with the 
old-time smile ; and in the hour of 
solitude, taking the place of living con- 
verse. 

The Sabbath School pupils, whom she 
had long taught with a zealous fidel- 
ity, she was obliged to resign to other 
care — but not to other prayers ; she 
remembered them daily, and occasion- 
ally collected them around her to com- 
mune of things which would soon be 
to herself glorious realities — to urge 
them each and all to a daily dying to 
the things of time and sense, and a 
daily living to the blessed teachings of 
our Lord and Saviour. She commend- 
ed them to the word of His grace, in 
the sure faith that they would triumph 
over the world, the flesh and the devil ; 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 45 

and come off more than conquerors 
through Him who hath loved us with 
an everlasting love. Does not a spirit 
so faithful watch over them still % 
Doubtless her harp has struck new, 
rich chords as the news was proclaimed 
in Heaven that one and another had 
forsaken 

" Earth's troubled waters for a purer spring." 

For it needs not the penitence 
of a world to be thus commemor- 
ated w r ith jubilee-chants by those an- 
gelic choirs 1 — nor of a nation, nor in- 
deed of a community ; we might not 
think it at all strange, were it thus — 
but it is the penitence of one single in- 
dividual on this earth, among its many 
millions ! 

Miss Brayton had a remarkably fine, 
retentive memory, and was to the last 
the moving spring of the circle who 



46 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

gathered round her. Her voluminous 
reading furnished her with abundant 
good for thought ; her experience of 
life, for reflection ; her powers of con- 
versation were fine, and the result of 
mingled study and observation were 
interwoven in the most attractive man- 
ner. It was the delight of many who 
were in perfect health, to visit the In- 
valid — so charmed were they by the 
worth, the wit, the wisdom, which her 
general conversation displayed; the 
cheerfulness which she never failed to 
inspire in every heart, however sadden- 
ed by the circumstances of actual life ; 
the good sense which marked all her 
opinions ; and the depth and fervor of 
her piety, which was a lamp ever bright- 
ly burning. 

The Summer passed on — its bright, 
warm days gradually fading into the 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 47 

serener skies of Autumn ; the foliage 
assumed its gorgeous coloring, the earth 
its browner tint : all nature was pre- 
paring to be enwrapped in its white 
robe of purity. The sufferer, who was 
rapidly wasting away, could no longer 
part from her couch. The affectionate 
devotion of kind friends was never want- 
ing. She had no immediate family to 
gather around, because her parents and 
most of her relatives had " passed on'' 
before her, and the rest were widely 
removed by the circumstances of life 
from her pathway. The Persians have 
a saying, " May you die among your 
kindred !" but it may be an open ques- 
tion whether those who survive their 
kindred, and fall among the last leaves 
from the tree, are not the happier. 
They have not the sadness of parting 
from dear ones, and they have all the 



48 " CHILD OP GENTLENESS." 

blissful anticipations of a joyful meet- 
ing that shall know no separation. 

It was just as the holy light of a 
Sabbath in October was fading away, 
that the sweet spirit of this " child of 
gentleness" fled to Heaven. Lovely 
in life, she was lovely in death ; and 
the serenity of her soul, which had rest- 
ed on the Rock of Ages, was portrayed 
<on her features, when they were in 
marble stillness of repose. She rests 
in the churchyard where she often loved 
to wander, and meditate upon another 
life, to which we are led thro' " the 
grave and gate of death." This dear 
friend was endowed with rare mental 
gifts, gilded with a refinement which 
shone pleasingly into all hearts — ever 
winning love and respect from the aged 
and the child. While life lasts, we 
who miss her shall scarce gather from 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 49 

the wide world so sweet a flower as 
this lovely, retiring " Lilly of the Val- 
ley," as she was wont to be called by 
those w 7 ho knew her well. 

" When a skillful artist sets about 
drawing a landscape, he steadily fixes 
his eye on some one point in the hori- 
zon, which, having once determined up- 
on, he never deviates from, but makes 
it the rule and measure of his whole 
work; every line in his picture, great 
or small, tends to or is governed by this 
point. The piece completed, every 
beholder is struck by its symmetry and 
proportion ; but only an artist knows 
the efficient cause of its beauty — for he, 
only, understands perspective rules." 

So in this lovely christian's life, the 
religion of Jesus Christ occupied the 
position of that point in the horizon ; 



50 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 

no object was too insignificant to be 
ruled by it. Blameless and guileless 
before men, the most worldly could but 
admire her consistency ; but as in the 
case of all who earnestly strive for the 
faith once delivered to the saints, none 
save those who are wise unto salvation, 
can understand or intelligibly explain 
the wonder-working cause of what is 
so admirable. 

In the spring-time of life, her bud- 
ding hopes and prospects were crushed ; 
but long before she had attained her 
seventh lustre of years and bowed her 
head to die, she was enabled to under- 
stand that the north wind and the 
south wind are never sent into the 
" garden of the Lord " in vain. The 
beautiful hymn which follows was a 
great favorite with her; and in its 



"CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 51 

submissive, hopeful spirit, she always 
found the secret good in all severe chas- 
tisements. Eminently did this child of 
God feel that out of darkness there 
ever ariseth great light ! 



52 " CHILD OF GENTLENESS.' 



WHAT IS AFFLICTION? 

What is affliction ? — Speak, man, 
From sorrow's bruising rod, 

That liftest up thy head to scan 
The mazy paths of God. 

It is the battering storm, which long 

Vexed Esdraelon's vale : 
Hark ! how the grateful reapers' song 

Floats joyous on the gale ! 

It is the snow, with chilling flake 

On Lebanon embossed : 
See, the bright gems of verdure break 

And nurse his bleating host. 

It is the wintry wind, which smites 

The bud of Sharon's rose : 
With richer fragrance he invites, 

With deeper crimson glows. 

It is the pruning knife, that shears 
Engaddi's rambling vine : 



" CHILD OF GENTLENESS." 53 

Half-bow'd his clustering load he bears, 
And swells with purple wine. 

great Vine-dresser ! teach my heart 

Thy searching knife to bear ; 
With every branch of pride to part, 

And bless my Pruner's care. 

Yea, quell mine overgrown array, 

And, if it be Thy will, 
Lop fortune, friends and fame away 

For Thou art with me still ! 



54 THE lord's prayer. 



THE LOKD'S PRAYER. 

Father, adored in worlds above ! 

Thy glorious name be hallowed still; 
Thy kingdom come in truth and love ; 

And earth like heaven obey thy will. 

Lord, make our daily wants thy care ; 

Forgive the sins which we forsake: 
In thy compassion let us share, 

As fellow-men of ours partake. 

Evils beset us every hour; 

Thy kind protection we implore, 
Thine is the kingdom, thine the power, 

The glory thine for evermore. 



THE END 



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